Stroke Signs & Symptoms

Knowledge is powerful, and knowing Stroke risk factors, as well as the signs and symptoms of a Stroke, gives you the ability to make the right decision if you or a loved one has a Stroke.

Learn the Stroke warning signs and treat them as a medical emergency by calling 911.

Treating Stroke as an emergency can help save lives and improve health outcomes. The warning signs of Stroke are:

Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, leg, especially on one side of the body

Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

Sudden severe headache with no known cause

If you suspect someone is having a Stroke, act F.A.S.T.

Face: Ask him or her to smile. (Does one side of the face droop?)

Arms: Ask him or her to raise both arms. (Does one arm drift downward?)

Speech: Ask him or her to repeat a simple sentence. (Are the words slurred? Can he or she repeat the sentence correctly?)

Time: If the person has difficulty with any of these tasks, call 911 immediately! Time is important because brain cells are dying.

If you or a loved one are experiencing Stroke symptoms, call 911 and get to the hospital IMMEDIATELY! Treatments are available that may dramatically reduce a Stroke’s devastating effects—but they must be provided within a few hours of the onset of a Stroke.